Patent GB-672897-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in music printing or typewriting machines
IPC: B41J3/34
Filed: 1949-03-07
Abstract: 672,897. Typewriters. PARKER, J. M. March 7, 1949 [March 18, 1948], No. 6188/49. Class 100 (iv). A machine for printing music comprises a substantially horizontal stationary platen, a typewriting mechanism movable longitudinally and transversely thereover, and manually operable means for adjusting said mechanism longitudinally (transversely to the stave lines), including an indicator device having a pathway between upstanding laterally spaced bars with staggered horizontal slots spaced in conformity with the lines and spaces of a stave, and a lever movable along the path to traverse said mechanism, and sideways into the slots. The platen 3, Figs. 1 and 4, is supported in a frame 1, and rests on rollers 49 carried on a plurality of pairs of arms 47, 48 hinged to shafts 46, each pair of arms being connected together at their inner ends by a tongue and slot connection. Along the upper side edges of the platen are hinged strips 6 spring-urged upwards. The platen is lowered against spring-action by means of a handle 56, shaft 54, crank 53, and lever 51 rotating one of the shafts 46. When the platen is allowed to rise, strips 4 on the frame 1 force the strips 6 into horizontal position and clamp .the paper between the strips 6 and the platen. A spring strip 7 clipped on flanges 8 clamps paper narrower than the platen. A carriage C bears a keyboard 9 and bank of fingers 11 and is supported on rollers 12 for transverse movement, along a carriage-way 13 mounted on rollers 14, 14', for longitudinal movement on runners 16 on the frame. A rack 21 on the carriage-way 13 co-operates with escapement mechanism of the carriage C in such a way as to allow transverse movement of the carriage in steps by means of the space-bar or automatically in timed relationship with the actuation of the keys. A crank lever 22 is manually operable to engage or disengage the escapement mechanism, and to prevent the automatic movement of the carriage, as when printing musical chords. A spring band spool 42 influences the carriage in a predetermined direction. The carriage-way 13 is urged forwards by weights as 43 or by spring tension means. The carriageway 13 is provided with a transverse axle 17 carrying the rollers 14 and pinions 18 co-operating with a rack or racks 19 on the frame, whence longitudinal movement of the carriage is controlled by rotation of the axle 17. Rotatably mounted on the axle 17 is a block 29 carrying on a vertical pivot pin 31 a yoke 28 supporting a shift lever 26 having a handle 26a. Supported on the frame are two curved strips 23 having staggered horizontal strips 24, which may have identifying marks equivalent to the various lines and spaces of the stave. The lever 26 is movable up and down between the strips 23 by pivoting of the block 29 on the axle 17, and is also movable slightly to left or right by pivoting of the yoke 28 on the block 29 so as to enter slots formed by the strips 24, thereby positioning the carriage in the desired position with respect to the stave, pins 27 being provided on the strips 23 in association with the strips 24 to support the lever and protect the more fragile strips 24 from wear by the lever. The block 29 is clutched to the axle 17 by means of a pin 37 carried by the block and spring- urged into one of a plurality of holes 36 or notches in a flange 34 on the axle, the holes or notches being peripherally spaced on the flange in groups of three relatively close together. By rotation of the lever 26 about its own axis, a trigger 38 thereon acts on a projection 37a on the pin 37 to withdraw it from the hole so that the lever can then be swung without movement of the carriage, and thus the carriage can be moved from one stave to the next. The platen is adjustable longitudinally by means of a knurled knob 59 on a screw-threaded rod 58 co-operating with a screw block mounted on the underside of the platen. To print lines or marks, such as stave lines, a printing roller 63 is provided having five circumferential ridges bearing against an inking pad and capable of being caused to bear on the paper, or one or a number of ball-point pens may be supported vertically on the carriage mechanism. Curves may be inscribed by simultaneous lateral and longitudinal movement of the carriage. Single lines may be inscribed by a roller wheel 66 brought into engagement with the paper by depressing a finger piece 67. An ink ribbon T is provided. The machine is of the same general type as that described in Specification 630,205. The Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91 comprises also the use of the machine for "cutting" a master "wax stencil." This subject-matter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.